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Monday, April 13, 2009

Meghan McCain, daughter of last November's Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, earlier appeared on Larry King Live where she stated her support of same-sex marriage. She sent the Republican Party into a tizzy while gaining many allies in the LGBT community.

"I am a woman who despises labels and boxes and stereotypes. Recently, I seemed to have rocked a few individuals within my party by saying that I am a pro-life, pro-gay-marriage Republican. So if anyone is still confused, let me spell it out for you. I believe life begins at conception and I believe that people who fall in love should have the option to get married. Lest we forget, our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, grants the same rights to everyone in this country—“All men are created equal.” If you think certain rights should not apply to certain people, then you are saying those people are not equal. People may always have a difference of opinion on certain lifestyles, but championing a position that wants to treat people unequally isn't just un-Republican. At its fundamental core, it's un-American."

Throughout the piece, she makes clear her support for the Republican Party, that she's not straying from it but hoping to steer it back to its roots. She informs that she will be speaking at the Log Cabin Republicans' convention.

"At the end of the day, speaking at the Log Cabin Republicans' convention isn’t just about reaching out to the gay community—although I believe doing so is vital to the future success of the party. It’s also about reaching a wider base and redefining what it means to be Republican, and leaving labels, stereotypes, and negativity by the wayside. That more and more people are discussing gay rights speaks positively for the millions of young and progressive Republicans waiting for our party to return to its roots. Personal freedoms are what makes this country the greatest country in the world. And just like the civil-rights and feminist movements before this, the movement toward gay equality and gay marriage is one I have absolute faith will triumph over prejudices. Moreover, I believe the Republican Party has, at this moment, the opportunity to come forward and play an instrumental role in securing gay rights. That's why I'm speaking at the Log Cabin convention and couldn't be prouder to be doing so. And yes, I'm still a Republican. Get used to it."

If the whole of the Republican Party was more like her, I'd be hard pressed to come up with a reason not to switch parties. The Democrats in the past have offered many promises to the LGBT community only to ditch us once elected.

Calling her support for the gay community's cause "one of the ones closest to my heart," Meghan supports her words with action. If she ran for office, I may have to put my cynicism aside and actually believe her promises of equality.

If a new generation of Republicans follows Meghan's lead, it would be a mighty case of irony if the history books told about how the Republican Party brought LGBT equality to America.

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"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression."

- Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the most influential Founding Fathers.